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Friday, 19 May 2017

Michel Temer: Brazil president faces new corruption accusations

Brazilian President Michel Temer has taken millions of dollars in bribes since 2010, according to testimony released by the Supreme Court.

The plea-bargain testimony came from bosses of a giant meat-packing firm.

If confirmed, the accusations could prove devastating for Mr Temer's crisis-hit administration, though he has vowed to prove his innocence.

He is already facing allegations he authorised paying bribes to silence a witness in a huge corruption scandal.

On Thursday he vowed in a TV address to stay on as president.

Joesley Batista, the chairman of the company JBS, alleges that Mr Temer was paid more than $2.5m (9m reais) over the last seven years for electoral campaigning and to pay allies.

Another company director says $4.6m was distributed to Mr Temer's allies in 2014 in the guise of official election campaign donations.

Former presidents Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff received $50m and $30m respectively to fund political campaigns, the testimony says. Both have denied any accusations against them.

Separately, Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot wrote in a court filing on Friday that Mr Temer was one of a number of politicians who obstructed investigations into the massive corruption inquiry known as Operation Car Wash.

A year ago, Mr Temer took office after Ms Rousseff's impeachment. Now there are calls for his removal too.

On Thursday Brazilian authorities released an audio recording where Mr Temer appears to be discussing bribes in conversation with Mr Batista.